Save Your Knocked-Out Tooth With These 5 Steps

Now that the weather is warming up, you’ve decided to make good on your New Year’s resolution to be more active. You choose to try out a new biking trail, but immediately regret your decision when you hit a pothole and go flying over the handles. Next thing you know, your mouth is sore, and you can see one of your teeth lying next to you. A jolt of panic shoots through your mind.

According to the American Association of Endodontists, more than five million teeth are knocked out each year, but if you follow these steps provided by an emergency dentist in Somerville, you could save your tooth and smile.

Step 1: Locate Your Tooth and Control Bleeding

Ideally, your tooth hasn’t gone too far. However, it may take some searching. It can be helpful to start by looking in the direction of where the impact occurred. Once you find your tooth, take special care to avoid picking it up by the root. From there, examine your mouth and do what you can to control any bleeding. If possible, bite down on a piece of gauze to absorb some of the blood until you can visit your dentist.

Step 2: Rinse the Tooth with Water

When your tooth gets knocked out, it is exposed to a variety of new germs and bacteria. To clean the tooth, simply grab it by the crown (the part that chews) and gently rinse under cool water. Make sure not to use any soap, harsh chemicals, scrubs, or cloth throughout the cleaning process and never touch the root.

Step 3: Attempt to Reinsert Your Tooth

This step can be intimidating, but your tooth must be reinserted within the first 30 minutes for this process to be successful. Grabbing from the crown, carefully try to place the tooth back in its socket. If successful, hold it in place with your finger or gently bite down on it with some gauze.

Step 4: Keep it Moist

If reinsertion is not successful, you must keep it moist in another way. One recommended method is to keep it in a glass of milk. Milk prevents the cells of the root from bursting, which will increase the likelihood of your dentist being able to save your smile. In an emergency situation where you don’t have any milk on hand, you can use a cup of water. However, never place the tooth in saltwater, alcohol, or mouthwash.

Step 5: Call Your Dentist

The best chances of saving the knocked-out tooth occur when you see your dentist within 30 minutes. Therefore, even if some of the pain has receded and you’ve successfully implanted your tooth in its socket, it is crucial that you still call your dentist immediately. This will ensure that any peripheral injuries to your mouth are addressed and the likelihood of infection is reduced.

It can be difficult not to give into the panic that comes with a knocked-out tooth. However, acting on these 5 steps quickly will save your tooth, restore your smile, and have you all healed in no time!

About the Author

Dr. DawnMarie DiGrazia currently practices at Somerset Dental Arts where she provides patients with everything from regular check-ups to emergency dental services. Her entire team is dedicated to delivering judgment-free dental care that focuses on your unique smile in a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere. If you or a loved one have knocked out a tooth, you can contact Dr. DiGrazia through her website or by phone at 908-722-2999.